Holidays? Already? Tips for Giving Less of a Crap

I can’t believe Christmas and New Years are almost here. I exclude Hannukah because I literally black-holed the entire holiday. I lit my menorah on the first night—and spent the next seven in the hospital. Remember my earlier post about how I felt like I’d missed an entire two weeks due to the migraines? It feels like I’m just blazing through the weeks without really being there at all!

Right now we’re waiting on my ENT and infectious disease doctor to come up with some sort of plan about this sinus infection. They both agree I need to have surgery, the ENT said that if he attempted to do that on Monday that my nose would just swell shut due to the inflammation.

Anyways—I’m going to try really hard next week to just take it day by day and ENJOY all of the events this holiday. Sunday night my best friend from childhood is coming into town with her boyfriend and I’m so excited to see her and finally meet him! And then Christmas eve I’m spending with R.J’s family, then I think R.J and I are going to open our gifts to each other at our house and then head to his mom’s for breakfast and his cousin’s for Christmas dinner. I’m also just looking forward to spending time with him. I haven’t slept in my own bed for nine days and I’m finally heading home tonight (spent last night at my mom’s.)

Now I usually put a lot on my plate for the holidays, but this year I think it’s imperative to my health to give less of a crap in the coming days. Here are some ways in which I’m going to do that:

1) I shopped early. I may have one or two last minute gifts to pick up, but for the most part I got everyone’s gifts months ago (when I had money and gift cards…)

2) I’m not cooking. For Thanksgiving I made an easy string bean casserole and a pie—and even that kind of stressed me out. So this Xmas I’m skipping the usual carrot souffle Sorry, but if it means the difference in having enough energy to enjoy the day and being too exhausted to see straight—I’m going to save the boiling and chopping of carrots for next year!

3) We’re only spending time with one family. Christmas is an easy one for me. My family is Jewish so I’ve never had to choose between both families. This means one Christmas eve, one Christmas morning and one Christmas night.

4) Couple gifts. One of the perks of being in a long term relationship is that you get to give gifts as a couple. Not to everyone, but to some family and friends—it can take the stress of gift giving just a little easier.

5) I’m holding off until after the new years. I’m just done with 2012. And I’m not planning anything else important for this year, I’m just going to close my eyes and barrel through it into the new year. Surgery? Save it for the new year. Ultimatums? Cancelled until the new year. I’m just not going there with my expectations.